Verkaufen auf Deutsch - Why I opened an Etsy Store in German

Last month I started an experiment. I opened a second shop in Etsy that is entirely in German. Why did I do this, when Etsy isn't translated in German yet? For a couple of reasons:

1. Why Not? With the exception of the listing fees it's basically free. I wanted to see what it was like to maintain two stores, and what the experience is like listing products in another language and currency.

2. Google rankings. Even if people aren't searching for products on Etsy in German, I'm assuming Google is. My guess is that Google indexes Etsy on a much more regular basis than my own www.empapers.eu/de site.

2. Etsy will be in German one of these days. I want to have my German-language shop ready to go when that day comes. The chances are good that when Etsy finally does launch in other languages, they will do a lot of heavy promoting and be looking for shops to highlight. I want to be able to piggyback onto whatever publicity and promotion they will already be doing.

3. I want to sell in two currencies. Most of my customers are in North America and the English speaking world. I think a lot of these folks may be a little 'scared' of Euros, and likewise Europeans would rather not pay in dollars. This way I can offer all customers a shopping option in a currency they are familiar with.

Creating the second store was easy. My biggest challenge is that my written German is not good enough to write my own product copy, so I worked with a German Texter to translate a lot of my product text. Once you have the basic text for a listing, if you have similar products it's pretty easy to write a little intro text that is specific to the individual product and then just use the new 'copy' feature on a listing to create additional listings with different pictures.

So far nothing much has happened, and I haven't had any sales. My guess is that it's because there aren't many German speakers shopping (or searching for German terms) on Etsy, and I don't log into the second store as much as I should. Now that there are so many more social shopping features on Etsy (circles, favorite feeds, etc.) the more active on Etsy you are, the more awareness of your products and store increases.

While I can't point to large sales, I still think it's a good idea, and something that Native speakers can easily do, even if it's just with a few products to start.

You can follow a thread on this topic (Auf Deutsch) in the Etsy Deutsche Community Team Forum

EGST Profiles: Schaufenster

Name: Rebeccah Dean Von Schlieffen
Location: Berlin-Kreuzberg (about 15 minutes from Etsy's Berlin headquarters :) )
Etsy Store: http://www.schaufenster.etsy.com
Website: http://www.schaufensterbabe.com
Blog: http://www.schaufensterbabe.blogspot.com
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Schaufenster-Art-Vintage/229896246793
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/schaufenster

Tell us a little bit about what you make.
My store is pretty eclectic. I carry jewelry I've made from vintage materials (especially Bakelite which I love); original art work I've made from a collage of vintage stamps or emphemera as well as vintage photographs (most pieces are also embroidered in some way); original photographs and photograph sets and, last but not least, vintage clothing, housewares and home decor. My vintage items tend to be either mid-century, German kitsch and sometimes both.

What are some goals for your Etsy store?
My ultimate goal is to make a nice supplemental income from my store and have the satisfaction of making a living partly from something so creative I enjoy. But I'm also here to have fun. I love everything I sell. Most of the vintage pieces in my shop are just around my house until they are sold, so the customer is sometimes literally buying something off of my wall! I also like to use my shop as a creative outlet and a varied one at that. If I'm most interested in making jewelry I do that for a while, if I'd rather stitched I do that, if I'm in the mood to comb through ebay or flea markets for cool vintage finds then that's what I do. The goal, I guess, is never get bored and so far I've been very successful at that. :)

What item has been a ‘best-seller’ in your Etsy store ?
Since everything in my shop is one of a kind (except my photographs which, sadly, do not sell well) nothing could be described as my best selling item. This skirt, however, is definitely my best loved. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9725665 Almost 3,000 views and 44 hearts and yet no one has bought it!

How would you describe your style?
Quirky, funky, vintage-inspired, feminine, kitsch-loving


Is this your full time work?
I have two young daughters who are 3 and one and a half, so right now they are my full-time job, though etsy is a close second. I also write (mainly short stories) and teach English at the TU Berlin where I will start working again part-time once my youngest daughter starts Kita in a few months. I mainly teach evening classes, however, so I will still have plenty of time for everything else.

Where do you do your work?
If it's the jewelry making and artwork stitching, then I work at our dining room table. If it's the vintage shopping, then all over Berlin or (on ebay) all over the country and sometimes Austria. If it's the photography, then also around the city or, when I'm lucky enough, other places around the world. Of course, I also spend a lot of time behind a computer just like everyone else I suppose.

How would you like to see Etsy develop in Germany?
I would like to see Etsy also offering workshops and inspiring more and more people to get the handmade and vintage bug. I love how personal and creative it all is and, in the case of vintage, also a great and stylish way to recycle.

What do you see as some of the benefits/potential benefits of being part of the German Etsy Street Team?
I think it will be great to be part of a community. Since our shops are on the internet, the whole process can be pretty lonely and impersonal. It will also be great to get to know other people who are running shops in Germany, since Etsy has been so U.S. focused before. I'm an American, but I do speak fluent German and would find it great to see more done in German as well as other language

Etsy Germany Steet Team Sellers: Beate Knappe

Name: Beate Knappe
Wohn- und Arbeitsort: Düsseldorf, Deutschland
Etsy Store(s): http://www.etsy.com/shop/belladonnadesign, http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeateKnappe
Website: http://www.beateknappe.de
Blog: http://bilderundworte.blogspot.com/ (Deutsch), http://beates-fabric-art.blogspot.com/ (Englisch)
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dusseldorf-Germany/Beate-Knappe/343230898673
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BKnappe

Erzähl' uns ein bisschen von dir. Was machst und verkaufst du?
Ich bin Fotografin und mixed media Künstlerin und ich habe 2 Shops bei Etsy. Meine Fotografie biete ich unter meinem Namen, Beate Knappe, an und alles andere unter dem Label “BellaDonnaDesign”.


Was ist ein Bestseller in deinem Etsy-Shop?
In den letzten drei Jahren habe ich mein “starter Kit” - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33184003 - für das Arbeiten mit der Embellisher sehr gut verkauft. Die Embellisher ist eine neuartige Maschine zur Oberflächengestaltung, hier ist zu sehen was ich damit mache: http://www.flickr.com/photos/beateknappe/sets/72157594512453964/

Wie würdest du deinen Stil beschreiben?
Als Fotografin habe ich einen ganz eindeutigen Stil – dieser ist das genaue Gegenteil meiner anderen Arbeiten – also, was soll ich sagen – ich habe keine Ahnung!!!! Ich weiß nur, dass ich beide Betätigungsfelder brauche um leben zu können.


Wo und wie arbeitest du?
Ich bin seit 2008 wieder freiberuflich und arbeite sowohl zu Hause als auch in einem Fotostudio und versuche von meiner Hände Arbeit zu leben :-))


Was würdest du dir für die Entwicklung von Etsy in Deutschland wünschen?
Ich wünsche mir, das etsy in Deutschland mehr bekannt und zu einem Begriff für individuelle “handmade” Produkte wird und einfach einen guten Ruf hat, denn wo sonst bekommst du soviel individuelle Dinge auf einmal zu sehen wie bei etsy – nirgendwo.

Worin siehst du mögliche Vorteile für dich, Teil des German Etsy Street Teams zu sein?
Für unsere Gruppe wünsche ich mir, dass wir uns gegenseitig unterstützen und ermutigen und uns einem breiten Publikum vorstellen, und ansonsten kann ich mich all dem anschließen was meine Vorrednerinnen schon gesagt haben. Etsy ist eine wunderbare einzigartige Möglichkeit internationale Künstlerinnen und Künstler zu treffen wie es sie sonst nicht gibt.

Etsy Euro Week - Wir Feiern Mit

Ab Montag, 22. März, feiret Etsy ‘Euro Week’ und wir feiern mit. Viele Mitglieder von dem German Etsy Street Team Sellers beiten super angeboten an! Starting on Monday, March 22nd, Etsy will celebrate ‘Euro Week’ highlighting sellers from Europe. The following German Etsy Street team members are offering specials and/or sales to celebrate:

IM ANGEBOT:
Katheyl - Selling Jewlery, 20% discount storewide
Missus D - Selling: amigurumi (crochet toys), Buy One Get One Half Off
Missus D Paperie - Selling: printable paper goods and graphic designs, Buy One Get One Free
Buechertiger - Selling: journals, sketch- and notebooks, artist books and lino prints 10% off all blank books when you mention Etsy Euro Week in 'Message to Seller'


FREE SHIPPING/VERSANDKOSTEN:
Koop de Grace - Selling: wearable handmade fashion accessories, Free Shipping Worldwide
Mami Made It - Selling: toys, bags and purses, housewares, Free shipping for purchases over $15
LslieArt - Selling, Yoga Bags, Free shipping for all yoga mat bags worldwide.
E.M. Papers - Selling: printable paper goods, Free shipping worldwide

SPECIALS/SPEZIALANGEBOT:
Louis by Amanda - Selling: handprinted and handsewn goods, Giveaway- refer to blog http://ilovesasek.blogspot.com/